The BC government  is building a new plant and animal health centre - aimed at keeping people safe by stopping diseases such as avian flu before they spread.

Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food, says the new centre will help producers prevent and respond to disease threats, protect the food supply and support public health. 

The Province says the new facility will be the backbone of B.C.'s food safety system, helping farmers and veterinarians quickly detect and respond to animal and plant diseases that could threaten animal safety, food supply and public health.

The current centre suffered extensive damages during the 2021 floods in Abbotsford and needs to be replaced to meet the increasing demands for testing. The centre handles more than 10,000 cases annually from farmers and organizations, helping to detect, monitor and prevent diseases such as avian influenza, West Nile virus and chronic wasting disease. Staff at the lab conduct, on average, 100,000 tests annually.

The new centre will replace the current 30-year-old facility and be built to modern specifications to provide updated testing for farmers and better protect public health.